house, I am placed in a
situation which compels me to cause such an unpleasant scene. But no
obligations of courtesy or etiquette can induce me to sit quietly
beside a person, whom I have good reasons for thinking anything but a
man of honor. Again I beg the master of the house and his noble guests
to pardon me; but there are instincts of the blood stronger than any
training. One who has a natural aversion to a toad or a snake must
leave the spot that such a reptile makes unendurable; in doing this,
however, I have no desire to offend any one who rejoices in stronger
nerves. Look me in the face, Herr--Vicar. Your brazen front was well
known to me in the days, when as Candidat Lorinser--"

"You wish to reproach me for having restored my name to the original
form used in my family before they left Denmark--"

"I don't grudge you any name and title you wish to adopt. If you could
efface the rest of your past as quickly--"

"Judge not, that ye be not judged," interrupted Lorinser, with
immovable calmness and unction. With the exception of a slight
quivering of the nostrils, not a feature of the pale but singularly
imposing countenance betrayed any special agitation.

"I appeal," he continued, "to my honored mistress the princess--that I
have never pretended to be a sinless man; the earth has never contained
but one such, and his disciples should remember that they are all
sinners and lack the renown which before God--"

"This is the introduction to a sermon, Herr Vicar," said Edwin; "I will
not interrupt and prevent you from edifying your congregation. But as I
am not a member I shall have the honor of taking leave of the company,
and bidding them all good night."

He bowed to the countess and left the hall, before any of the party
recovered from their surprise.

CHAPTER IX.

Edwin was scarcely in his room, to which a footman with a very
bewildered expression, had lighted him, when his excitement passed away
and bitter indignation and wrath took possession of him. He experienced
the gnawing discomfort which seizes upon everyone, when, while he does
not regret having yielded to a noble impulse, he must curse the
circumstances which forced him to disturb a social circle with his
righteous anger. He was a guest and had quarrelled with another guest
of the house, a house governed by the rules of society, which as far as
possible stifle all natural sounds, smother to a malicious wh